Most of the average company's capital investment portfolio is tied to information technology, and organizations today can't do without their information systems.

Meanwhile, the role of IT is expanding within and outside organizations; and with the extent of current global connectivity, the decisions of one corporation can affect many other enterprises.

Add to this situation the increased emphasis on corporate governance in the wake of scandals such as Enron, and the reasons are clear for IT to warrant greater attention from boards of directors.